Activision Blizzard

Activision to merge with Vivendi to create another huge corporation to combat EA. Bring on Bladerunner and the megalithic corporations plz.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=16457

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamasutra

In a shock move, Activision and Vivendi have announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business with Activision, creating the world’s largest pure-play online and console game publisher.

The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues and the highest operating margins of any major third-party video game publisher. On closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI.

Activision is best known for its top-selling franchises, including Guitar Hero, Call of Duty and the Tony Hawk series, as well as Spider-Man, X-Men, Shrek, James Bond and Transformers. Blizzard Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, has projected calendar 2007 revenues of $1.1 billion, operating margins of over 40% and approximately $520 million of operating profit.

Blizzard owns the #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise, World of Warcraft, which currently has over 9.3 million subscribers worldwide. Blizzard’s World of Warcraft, Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo games account for four of the top-five best-selling PC game titles of all time. Vivendi Games also owns popular franchises, including Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. Pro forma for calendar 2007, Activision Blizzard expects to generate approximately 70% of its revenues from owned franchises.

Oh god.

Activision Blizzard? Is that like a Dairy Queen treat with Pitfall Harry on the cup?

http://kotaku.com/gaming/business/vi...ard-328919.php

Actually this doesnt appear to be as bad as I thought, Vivendi is going to be the majority stock holder and have the majority of the board.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

Activision Blizzard? Is that like a Dairy Queen treat with Pitfall Harry on the cup?

Sold!

Guitar Hero MMO?

I don't like Vivendi buying food to sustain themselves let alone competitors.

blizzard being second in the name does not bode well for the company

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Ri

blizzard being second in the name does not bode well for the company

The articles I read make it sound like Blizzard Entertainment has nothing to do with this.

EDIT: Oh, Blizzard was already owned by Vivendi? I had no idea.

What a horrible name.